Return bend and method of forming the same



May 9, 1933. J. E. TRAINER RETURN BEND AND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME I4 Sheets-Sheet '1 Filed Oct. 30 1929 Fig--5- INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

May 9, 1933. J. E. TRAINER RETURN BEND AND METHOD OF FORMING THE 4Sheets- Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 30, 1929 n| III.

INVENTOR I ATTORNEYS.

y 9, 1933- J. E. TRAINER 1,908,198

RETURN BEND AND METHOD FORMING THE SAME Filed Oct. 30, 1929 4Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR May 9, 1933. J. E. TRAINER RETURN BEND ANDMETHOD OF FORMING THE SAME Filed Oct. 30 .1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INN/EgFOR I ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 9, 1933' UNITED STATES JAMES E. TRAINER, OF BABBERTON,OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE BABCOCK & WILCOX PATENT OFFICE.

COMPANY, OF BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY RETURN BENDAND METHOD OF FORMING THE SAME Application filed October 30, 1929.Serial No. 403,506.

This invention relates to a novel and improved form, of return bend forsecuring together a plurality of tubes, and also to a novel methodofforming such a bend.

The invention will be best understood from the following description andthe annexed I drawings, in which I have shown selected embodiments ofthe return bend and the method of making the same. In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the die and parts therein shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing part of onestep in the method. Fig. 3 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 but showinganother part of the same step.

Fig. 4 is a view partly in elevation and partl in section, illustratingthe finished re-' turn nd.

' Fig; 5 is a view illustrating the bending of a tube as the initialstep in making a different formof the invention.

Fig. 6 illustrates the step following that shown in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 illustrates the method of forming the flange on the bendappearing in Fig. 6

Fig. 8 illustrates the bend after the flange is formed.

9 is a vertical sectional view ofa tubular member to be secured to thestructure appearing in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a V16W- of the completed bend,

partly in section and partly in elevation, the

section being taken on the line 101() of Fig. 11. l I

Fig. 11, is a view at right angles to Fig. 10, partly in elevation andpartly in section, the section being taken on the line 11-11 of Fi .12.

ig. '12 is an end view ofthe bend appearing in Fig. 11. i v I Q Fig. 13is an elevation showing my inven- 1 tion as embodied in an interdecksuperheater, this figure showing the form of invention disclosed inFigs. 5 to 12 inclusive.

Fig. 14- is ,a view similar to Fig. 13 but showing the form ofinventiondisclosed in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4.

. The invention consists primarily in providing a return bend whichembodies means for cleaning the tubes which are connected by the axes ofthe branches2 and 3. These holes may be formed by drilling or any othersuitable method. -The bend is then heated to flanging heat and placedwithin a suitable die 6. This die is of a form which will grip thereturn bendsecurely and will hold it'against 70 deformation during thesubsequent steps performed thereon. For that purpose, it is pr 0- videdwith parts engaging the walls of the branches, as plainly shown inFigs.'2 and '3, and another part 7 engaging the return bend between theholes 4 and 5.

Suitable mandrels 8 are then placed in the two branches, as shown inFig. 2, each mandrel having a nose 9 of a size to be received in theholes 4 and 5. The mandrels are then pushed down through the .holes, asillustrated in Fig. 3, this operation resulting in the for mation offlanges 10 surrounding each of the holes 4 and 5 which have now becomerelatively large openings of substantially the same size as the internaldiameters of the branches 2 and 3, and substantiallyin alignmenttherewith. The operation just described may be It is to be performed inany suitable mechanism such as a hydraulic press.

I next weld to each of the flanges 10 a tubu lar member 11 ofsubstantially the same internal diameter as the branches 2 and 3 so thatthe resultis an H-shaped return bend havin the two branches 2 and 3which are capable of'being secured to the tubes as by welding or otherwell-known means and forming-substantial extensions of these branchesare the members 11 through, which the tools may be inserted for thepurpose of cleaning the tubes connected to the branches. The two- 45and'therefore, are of one 5 threaded to receive a plug 13 exemplifying adetachable closure, and this plug may be welded as indicated at 14 toaid in holding it in position. This welded joint may be cut when it isdesired to remove a plug.

7 Referringnow to Figs. t012 inclusive, the

invention is here shown as comprising a bend having a single openingthrough which any one of the plurality of branches may be reached bycleaning tools. In practicing the 15 invention according to thedisclosure in these 'figures, I first bend a section of tubing to form abend 15, as shown in Fig. 5, suitable dies 16 and 17 being employed forthis purpose. The bend is next cut, as shown in Fig.

6, to remove a portion 18 therefrom, thus forming an opening. The bendis next sec relyclamped in a holder designated 19 in' ig. 7, and theedge portion 20 of the opening is acted on by a suitable'tool designated21 in F i 7, this tool spinning the portion 20 outwar ly to form aflange 22sur'rounding the opening, this flange appearing in Fig. 8. I

In Fig. 9. is shown a tubular member 23 having an end portion 24 of thesame internal dimensions as the flange 22. The member 23 isgplaced in"position on the flange 22 and .welded to the bend. This member is inter?nally threaded, as plainly shown at 25 and p is rovided with a plug 26.

each of Figs. 13 and 14 is shown an interdeck. superlfeaterdisposedbetween banks of water tubes 27 and 28. This super- Q heater comprisesheaders 29 and 30 connected 4 to ether by tubes which are shown ashaving 'su stantially straight parallel 1 portions :31 joinedtogetheriby return bends. At their outer ends, removed from the headers,these bends 32 are formed by bending the tubes which they join'together.

.bers being adapted to receive closure members. piece with .the tubes I110 .be used with other forms of apparatus where 2.'The method ofproviding means for" cleaning tubes connectedby a return bend, said bendhaving a plurality of'branches adapted to be connected to said tubes,which 7 comprises forming an opening in said bend communicating with atleast one 'of said branches, forming a flange surrounding said opening,welding a tubular member to the "flange, and-securing a closure memberto said tubular member; V

3. The -method of providing means for cleaning tubes connected by areturn bend, said bend having a plurality of branches adapted to beconnected to'saidtubes, which comprises drilling a small hole insaidbend substantially on thev axis of one of said branches, heating saidbend, inserting aman drel into said branch with a portion thereof insaid hole, forcing said mandrel through the hole to form a flangesurrounding it, welding a tubular member to said flange substantially inline with .said branch, and aflix- .1

, '4. A forged metal return bend having aing a closure member to thetubular member.

plurality of branches connected together by a curved portion openings insaid curved ortion substantlally in line with said ranches, and tubularmembers each having an end portion of substantially the same internaldimensionas one of said openings and welded to the wall thereof, saidtubular mem- 1 JAMES TRAINER.

In Fig. 13 the return bends, at-the inner ends 'of the tubes, near theheaders, are

.formed according tojmy invention as dis-, clesed'in'Figs. 5 to 12inclusive. ,At .32 is indicated a bend formed separately and, joined. tothe adjacent-tubes by welding at 33 and34. '-.At 35 are shown bendsformed by bending one end of a tube 31 and joining it to the end of theadjacent tube by welding. at-36. This form of my invention may bepractised with either kind of bend. y

In Fig. 14 the tubes 31 have their inner ends welded to the branches ofbends constructed in the manner disclosed in Fig. 1, 2, 3 and 4,

this form of bend being preferably'made asa separate fitting.

While I have shown the invention asiused v in connection with a'certainkind of superheater, it is to be understood that it" may

